India face Holland in Olympic hockey opener

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Last Updated: Tue, May 22, 2012 12:05 hrs

Bangalore: India will open their campaign in the 2012 Olympics hockey competition in London with a game against the Netherlands July 30, according to the schedule released by the International Hockey Federation (IHF) Tuesday.

India, ranked No.10, are clubbed with holders Germany (No.2), Korea (6), New Zealand (7) and Belgium (11), besides the Netherlands in Pool B of the 12-team competition that will be held from July 30 to August 11.

Pool A has world champions and top-ranked Australia, Great Britain (4), Spain (5), Pakistan (8), Argentina (9) and South Africa (12).

India next play New Zealand August 1, Germany August 3 and Korea August 5 before concluding their league engagements with a game against Belgium August 7.

The final classification matches, including the medal games, are scheduled for August 9 and 11, according to the FIH press release.